Not Ranked
Thought a remembrance of Paul Cunningham would be of interest. Fred Yeakel is one of the brothers that owned several car dealerships in Southern California.
Fred Yeakel Remembers Paul Cunningham:
"I was very interested in the write-up on Paul Cunningham. I bought my first Corvette at the racetrack at Santa Barbara on Memorial Day weekend 1963. I had been watching sports car races since the first LA Times Grand Prix in 1958.
When I went to Riverside Raceway for my first CalClub driver’s school, I was assigned to the group Paul Cunningham was instructing. I was sure that I knew everything there was to know! I had owned an Austin Healey 100-4 and a Alfa Romeo Gullia previously. I had watched races all over Southern California for 5 years as well as working corners for CalClub. This did not include my extensive "Mulholland Drive" experience.
The first session of the school, we all just followed the lead car around as Paul showed everyone the correct line. The next session we were all allowed out on the track, while Paul drove one student’s car with the student in the passenger's seat. We would be called into the pits, he would then get into another student's car for a few laps of instruction.
At this point I still thought I was hot stuff. The first lap I thought that Paul was pretty quick. I did not realize that he was only checking the car out. The second lap when we went down that long back stretch (this was before they added the dog leg) I was positive that we would not be able to get slowed down enough to make Turn 9. We were going to hit that dirt backed Armco. WE WERE GOING TO DIE!!
Well, we made it without a problem. Paul taught me the difference between the spectator's and driver's view
Paul was a great instructor and helped this fledgling racer through driver's schools at both Riverside and San Luis Obispo. I was in the same A & B production race at Willow Springs that claimed his life. It was the last race of the day and as you would come around Turn 9 the sun was directly in your eyes. I was coming out of Turn 8, on I believe lap 1, when all of a sudden there was this huge cloud of dust at Turn 9. We all drove through Turn 9 not being able to see anything. I was very sad when told what had happened.
I missed Paul Cunningham then and I still miss him today, even though I never got to know him that well."
Fred Yeakel
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